U311 cut square UPSS Die 88 Muncie, Indiana, geometric ellipse target cancel

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Catalog Number

U311

Stamp Type

Postal Stationery

Condition

Used

Stamp Format

Single

Topic

People - Politicians

Year of Issue

1890

Item Description

37x45mm. This cut square is Scott U311 with DARKER GREEN indicium on white paper. The United Postal Stationery Society (UPSS) identifies this indicium as Die 88. This copy does not include any part of a watermark. The Circular date stamp identifies Muncie, Indiana, as the originating post office. The year was 1893 and the obliterator design was a target ellipse.

This item has never been mounted in a collection. It was among 11-12,000 cut squares collected from Union City, Indiana, businesses. Although a few cut squares may have been collected across the state line in Union City, Ohio, I have found no evidence of that. Most of the readable postmarks are from 1891 to 1893, with the majority from 1892. However, there were also postmarks from the 1880s.

Although mail was coming to Union City from all over the country, much of it seemed to be coming from small cities and towns in Indiana and Ohio and to a lesser degree from smaller communities in other nearby states. In other words, most of the fancy and geometric cancels probably originated within 150 to 200 miles of Union City. Muncie and Union City were located on the C. C. C. & St. L. (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis) Railroad (Big Four) line that ran between Indianapolis and Detroit. The rail distance between the two cities was 31 miles.

Most types of the Die 88 stamped envelopes and cut squares are common. However, a wide range of inking problems during their production resulted in a long list of inking varieties. In addition, several die varieties have been identified. Other than the darker green color, this appears to be an ordinary copy of the Die 88 indicium.

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APS member since 1998

Seller Information

Seller

keesindy (4649)

Registered Since

04/11/2016

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Item Location

Indiana, United States

Ships To

United States

Returns Accepted

Yes

Returns Policy

All items may be returned unless otherwise stated in the listing. Of course, I cannot be responsible if uninsured items are damaged during shipping. If you are dissatisfied with a purchase, contact me within 7 days of your receipt of the item to make arrangements for returning it. If I have made an error in my listing or the item is not as described, you will receive a full reimbursement plus the pre-agreed-upon cost to return the item.